Sign carrying case

ABSTRACT

A carrying case with multiple compartments of size sufficient for carrying any sign to include signs attached to a frame with elongated legs with sharpened ends further comprising straps to control movement of the sign within the compartment and cover the sharpened ends of the elongate legs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an improved sign carrying case.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Cases for carrying artwork as well as signs have existed for a longtime. In connection with artwork, these cases contain various dividersso that several pieces of original art can be carried at the same time.A handle is typically employed to allow for convenient carrying. Signcarrying cases are typically of the same design. Signs, however, can beattached to a frame which includes elongated legs having sharpened endswhich are used to stake the sign into the ground. These types of signsare traditionally used in the real estate business to advertise that ahouse is for sale as well as the real estate agent selling the house.Historically, these types of signs are simply placed into the trunk of acar or other cargo carrying portion of a vehicle. The signs then tend tomove during transportation damaging not only the signs themselves butthe also the cargo area in which they are contained. Signs such as theforegoing, can also be used to advertise other items for sale, not justreal estate. Key to this type of sign is the placed on a frame whichincludes the elongated legs for staking the frame into the ground. Theframe can be of any sturdy material but is typically made of metal.

In order to reduce damage to the sign or the cargo area, signs such asdescribed above can be placed into a typical artwork designed case.Prior art in this regard consists of U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,381 issued Aug.23, 1988, to Michael C. Castle, entitled Sign Carrier and Storage Bag;U.S. Patent Application Number 2007/028983, Ananyzeh Gonzalez Inventor,Published Dec. 20, 2007, entitled Sign Transportation Ans StorageDevice; U.S. Patent Application Number 2007/093842, Published Aug. 23,2007, Larry J. Williams Inventor, entitled Realtor Kit; U.S. PatentApplication Number 2009/0206622, Published Aug. 20, 2009, Pat CraftInventor, entitled Board Bag; U.S. Design Pat. 371,237, entitled ToteBag for Carrying and Storing a Real Estate Sign, Sharon PfeiferInventor, Published Jul. 2, 1996; and U.S. Design Pat. 294,307, entitledReal Estate Caddy or Similar Article, Diane Williams Inventor, PublishedFeb. 23, 1988. None of this prior art discloses a carrying case with theability to house a sign attached to a frame having elongated legs withsharpened ends to stake the sign into the ground. If such signs wereplaced into the carrying cases of this prior art, the sharpened endstend to pierce the carrying case.

Disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Number 2008/0105585, Published May8, 2008, entitled Case for Holding Signs, Joel and Randy KoepplInventors, is a carrying case which appears to house both a sign as wellas the frame to which the sign is attached. As shown in FIG. 2 of theKoeppl Application, the elongated legs of the sign frame do not havesharpened ends. If signs attached to frames having elongated legs withsharpened ends were to be placed into the Koepple case, the sharpenedends would puncture the bottom of the case.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a largeenough carrying case with containment of both a sign as well as theframe onto which it is attached including the elongated legs havingsharpened ends. Additionally, the carrying case of the present inventionincludes straps attached to the top of the inside of the carrying casewhich are long enough to reach and cover the sharpened ends of theelongated legs. Other objects and advantages of the present inventionwill become apparent from the following detailed description when viewedin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which set forth certainembodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the front of the carrying case of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 depicts the pockets into which the sharpened ends of theelongated legs of the frame are placed into the inside straps.

FIG. 3 illustrates the carrying case of the present invention with morethan one inside carrying compartment and in a size for smaller signs notattached to a frame.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein.It should be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments aremerely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in variousforms. Therefore, the details disclosed herein are not to be interpretedas limiting, but merely as the basis for the claims and as a basis forteaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention.

The carrying case [1] of the present invention, depicted in FIGS. 1, 2and 3, is made from any material of sufficient rigidity and strength toadequately protect and house signs of various sizes, generally comprisestwo opposing panels, one of which [3] can be seen in FIG. 1. There maybe one compartment within the carrying case of the present invention oras seen in FIG. 3, there may be several [9]. The carrying case can beopened and closed along its lateral [4], top [5] and bottom [6] usingany traditional means such as a zipper or simple Velcro®.

FIG. 2 depicts one of the outside panels [3] opened to view the insidesecuring straps [7]. The straps [7], preferably 2, are attached to theinside edges of the carrying case at the top and are of sufficientlength to extend the full length of the elongated legs of the metalframe to which the sign is attached. At the bottom end of said straps[7] are pockets [8] into which the sharpened ends of the elongated legsof the sign frames are placed. The sharpened ends of frames areessential to stake the signs into the ground. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and3, the carrying case of the present invention includes a handle or strap[2] either attached to the sides or top of the carrying case so that thecase can be easily carried.

While the preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it willbe understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by suchdisclosure, but rather, is intended to cover all modifications andalternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

1. A carrying case with multiple compartments of size sufficient forcarrying signs attached to a frame with elongated legs with sharpenedends further comprising straps to control movement of the sign withinthe compartment and cover the sharpened ends of the elongate legs.
 2. Asign carrying case comprising two opposing panels with an inside andoutside surfaces along with top, bottom and lateral edges furthercomprising a means to re-sealably fasten said top, bottom and lateraledges together to form a case.
 3. The sign carrying case of claim 2further comprising at least one interior panel of sufficient size toseparate multiple signs, attached to the inside surface of said opposingpanels.
 4. The sign carrying case of claim 2 wherein the means tore-sealaby fasten said top, bottom and lateral edges together areinterlocking teeth (“zipper”).
 5. The sign carrying case of claim 2wherein a carrying strap is attached to the outside surface of saidopposing panels
 6. The sign carrying case of claim 2 further comprisinga means to secure signs to the inside surfaces of said opposing panels.7. The sign carrying case of claim 6 wherein the means to secure saidsigns are straps.
 8. The sign carrying case of claim 7 wherein saidstraps further comprise on one end pockets of sufficient height andwidth to restrain and cushion the sharpened ends of said elongated legs.